Now I could write a whole series on the subject of networking alone but these are the basics. If it is your first time networking I would initially go to an informal group as this will help you get your confidence and see how they work. Do an Internet search on networking and you town and you should find a whole range of groups in your area. Have a look for one that takes your fancy and book on. Most groups will let you attend one or two meetings before asking you to take out a membership so make full use of all the free trails until you find a group that you like. Some groups are free but you will find that those that charge a membership fee are often more formal business networking groups and produce more clients and referrals.

Again don’t forget that anyone you speak to may know someone who needs a virtual assistant so don’t dismiss anyone on first impressions and also remember that networking is two way so if you can put those you meet in touch with anyone they would be interested in, do it. You will be remembered for it and that’s the first step in getting referrals.

For more information about networking, have a look at our Networking for Virtual Assistants Online Course at: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-online-courses/networking-for-virtual-assistants/ 
 

Current articles available include:

The Importance of Client Consultation

The Secret to Success Is In The Numbers

Access the articles now at http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/articles/

Some people don’t see why building relationships are important and time well spent so picture the scenes below:

1. You’re at a networking event and looking forward to meeting some new people when from out of nowhere, this person walks straight up to you, passes you a business card, tells you their name, what they do and asks you to contact them if you need their product or service … all before you get a chance to say hello and doesn’t even ask you for your name.

Not a great start to the event and doesn’t really form a good impression of the person so the next time you see them, you will avoid them like the plague … not good for forming long term relationships!

2. You’re at a networking event and looking forward to meeting some new people when someone approaches you with a friendly smile, introduces themselves to you and asks your name.  They then start asking some questions about your business and seem really interested in what you have to say, they ask for a business card and suggest that they talk to Joe Bloggs as someone who would be interested in your product / service and introduce you to them. 

Not once have they mentioned anything about their business or done a hard sell on you but you will definitely remember how friendly and helpful they were so the next time you meet them, you will go out of your way to get to know them and try to repay the favour.  This is the start of your relationship with them and it is already turning out to be beneficial to both parties!

Which scene would you rather be involved with?

Want to learn how to network effectively to build your business? Check out Networking for Virtual Assistants online course, a practical course designed to help you build your networking strategy and network effectively.

If you make an impression on the person you are talking to they will remember you and possibly refer on to you anyone who may need your services. This is particularly true at networking events, but how can you make sure that they will remember you and refer you when appropriate. How about offering a referral fee?

A referral fee can be a gift or cash and is usually related to the amount a referred new customer spends. You only pay out on the referral if the potential new client signs up so you have nothing to lose. You may want to offer a free bottle of champagne or gift vouchers for each new referral or perhaps 10% of the first invoice total. It’s up to you but it can be a very effective way of getting your contacts to refer their contacts to you.

For more information about networking, have a look at our Networking for Virtual Assistants Online Course at: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-online-courses/networking-for-virtual-assistants/
 

Review projects regularly
Regularly review projects against objective and budget to see the progress. You can then make any necessary changes immediately instead of leaving until the last minute.

For more free advice from two of the UKs leading virtual assistants, visit:

http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/

Don’t pay Ray
When you sign up new clients, you should get them to sign a contract before any work is completed to ensure that they agree to your terms and conditions. For retainer clients, they purchase hours in advance so it is easier to manage – you don’t do the work if they haven’t paid. However, what can you do for project PAYG clients when you have already spent time on their work? It is recommended that you get a deposit of 50% up front before starting any work and then you invoice them the balance on completion of the work and get payment before handing over the project.

You need to refer to the terms and conditions that you have created for your business and action what it says regarding non payment e.g. do you charge interest? At what stage do you refer it to a debt management company etc?

I strongly advise you to stop any work you are doing for your non paying Ray until they have cleared the outstanding amount – you can’t allow them to run up huge debts.

Moaning Minnie
You may come across some clients who are not happy with your work. Sometimes this can be a genuine concern because you have done something wrong – no problem, fix it and apologise.

However, some people aren’t happy regardless of what you do for them even when there is nothing wrong with the work. I suggest you stop working with these clients immediately as they will totally drain you and you will start to resent them for how they make you feel. Give them the notice that your contract states and move on – you deserve a lot better.

Know it all Paul
Most people know someone who tries to help and offer you advice.  This is not normally a problem and can be very useful for you as you can learn from their experiences.

However, a Paul is someone who tells you how to run your business e.g. you should be doing this, I wouldn’t do that etc.  Be firm with them and say thanks, but no thanks. If you want advice, you can always approach them and ask.

1.    Define your audience.
Have a good think about who you want to be reading your blog. This is easier if you have a niche market because you will have a clear idea of who your customers are. If you don’t have a particular niche, think about what your clients have in common.

2.    Define your content.
Once you have decided who you want to reach, think about what information they would be interested in. Your blog is not a platform for you to continually trumpet about your services and how great you are, it is an opportunity to provide useful information for your readers.

For the remaining tips in this series visit: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/10-step-downloads/
 

This is where niche marketing comes in to make all of your marketing activities cost efficient and effective.

Check out this great article about Niching to Streamline Your Marketing Activities.

Visit http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/articles

Some of the different types of clients you may come across are:

Always in a hurry Murray
Some people can’t operate unless they are causing mayhem and panic around them. You will probably have come across some of these people already – they always have an emergency that needs taking care of, always rushing from place to place etc.

These types of clients can be very draining and remember, this is your business and you don’t have to work with these types of people if you don’t want to – it is your choice.

Don’t delegate Kate
These are the types who realise they need your help but don’t delegate the work to you. You may have to chase them constantly for information relating to projects and you might end up feeling frustrated when dealing with their projects.

As long as you know that they are not great at delegating information, you can work out systems to ensure that your dealings with them are effective – just don’t have too many Kate clients.

Don’t respect you Sue
One of the most important processes of starting your business is about creating boundaries for yourself and others to respect.  When taking on clients you need to educate them about what your boundaries are so that they can respect them. However, you might come across clients who don’t respect the boundaries that you have established which can create a chaotic life for you.

You need to be firm with Sue as soon as they step on any of your boundaries. If you are not firm, your Sue will not respect you or your business and will continue to treat you this way. If you leave it too long before speaking with your Sue, the harder it is to get them to change their habit.

Look out for 3 more client types in Part 2 next week.

We’ve spoken before about selling affiliate products, indeed you can earn from selling products and services from the VA Success Group by becomming an affiliate here: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/about-us/affiliate-programme/

But what about also working with Associate Experts in order to really catapult your income?

The following tips are taken from our free download "10 Steps For Successfully Working With Associate Experts"

1. Identify your clients

Firstly have a good look at who your clients are. What do they have in common? Doyou have a particular niche market? Are they large businesses or one man bands? Are they start-up businesses or established companies?

2. What other services would be useful to them

When you have established what your clients have in common you can start to think about what other services they may also need in addition to your virtual assistant ones. Draw up a list of specialist services you would like to offer through associate experts.

For the remaining 8 tips in this download visit: http://vasuccessgroup.co.uk/virtual-assistant-freebies/10-step-downloads/